HB 1384 Indiana House · 2025 Regular Session

Public defender benefits.

Summary

Allows an attorney who: (1) performs court appointed legal services on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis; (2) regularly performs court appointed legal services in more than one county that receives reimbursement from the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys; and (3) is not eligible to join an employee health plan in any state or local unit; to participate in the state employee health plan. Establishes eligibility, enrollment, and coverage requirements. Provides that the cost of coverage shall be shared between the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys and the eligible attorney. Establishes the public defender health benefit fund. Makes conforming changes.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced House Bill (H) → House Bill (H) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand eligibility for public defenders to join the state employee health plan. The changes clarify that attorneys must regularly perform court-appointed legal services in multiple counties to qualify, and the bill now establishes a specific public defender health benefit fund.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include public defenders who regularly perform court-appointed legal services in more than one county that receives reimbursement from the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys, in addition to the previous requirement of performing services on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new eligibility requirement that attorneys must regularly perform court-appointed legal services in more than one county receiving reimbursement from the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys.

Added a new eligibility requirement that attorneys must not be eligible to join an employee health plan in any state or local unit.

FISCAL

Established a new public defender health benefit fund to manage coverage costs shared between the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys and eligible attorneys.

DEFINITION

Updated the bill title and digest to reflect the February 11, 2025 amendment and to include the new public defender health benefit fund provision.

TIMELINE

Maintained the effective date of July 1, 2025, for the amended provisions.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors